If you’ve ever driven across Texas, you know just how big and empty it can feel. There are stretches of highway where you won’t see another soul for miles, but don’t let all that wide-open space fool you. Hidden in those empty miles are stories that’ll stick with you long after the sun goes down.
Texas is packed with haunted places, from old battlefields where soldiers never left to haunted hotels where some guests checked in but never checked out. If you’re the kind of person who loves a good ghost story—or just wants to see if the legends are true—there are some stops you can’t miss.
So, if you’re up for some paranormal activity, grab your keys and a flashlight. These are some of the spookiest places to visit in the Lone Star State.
Original article and images courtesy of US Ghost Adventures.
1. The Alamo – San Antonio
The Alamo in San Antonio is one of Texas’s most famous landmarks. What not many people know, though, is that it’s also one of the state’s most haunted locations.
While the story of the battle might already be known to you, the hauntings that came afterward might come as a surprise.
Did you know that the Alamo, which was then a Christian mission, was nearly destroyed by order of Mexican general Santa Anna? According to legend, when his men tried to set fire to the building, they were scared off by ghostly figures—often described as six monks—guarding the site with flaming swords. Some versions of the story call them “diablos,” but most local lore refers to them as monks, possibly the spirits of the original missionaries.
While the Alamo is a popular tourist attraction during the day, at night, its other side comes to light. Guests at the nearby Menger and Crockett hotels are among those most likely to encounter apparitions, as they’re able to see at night what most tourists cannot see during the day.
Phantom soldiers are said to roam the grounds, and the crackle of gunfire and the sound of cannon shots have reportedly been heard in the early hours. Some say they have seen a man and a young boy jump off the walls of the old mission in a perpetual loop, a haunting echo of a story told by Santa Anna’s troops during the battle itself.
2. White Rock Lake – Dallas
White Rock Lake is a man-made reservoir built in the early 20th century to help Dallas deal with a water shortage. These days, it’s a huge park where you’ll see people canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. But if you’re thinking about swimming, think again. The city banned swimming back in the 1950s to keep Dallas’s drinking water clean—and even though the lake isn’t used for that anymore, the ban is still in place.
Maybe it’s for the best. With all the legends swirling around White Rock Lake, you might not want to go for a dip anyway. The most famous story is that of the “Lady of White Rock Lake,” also known as the “Lady in White.” She’s said to haunt the dark roads and shorelines, just trying to find her way home.
The legend goes back to the 1940s. Drivers spot a young woman in a soaking wet white dress, sometimes asking for a ride because her boat overturned. She gives them an address, but by the time they arrive, she’s vanished—leaving behind nothing but a wet seat or a puddle. When the driver knocks on the door, a sad parent explains their daughter drowned in the lake weeks before, and this isn’t the first time someone’s tried to bring her home.
So, if you’re out at White Rock Lake after dark, keep an eye out. You never know who—or what—might be looking for a ride.
3. The Driskill – Austin
The Driskill hotel was built by Jesse Driskill, a cattle baron who had made a fortune selling cattle to the Confederate army. After the war was over, he decided to expand his empire by building this hotel – and quite a dazzling one it was.
However, after a severe drought and freeze devastated his cattle business, his fortunes changed dramatically. After opening the hotel in 1886, a harsh winter and drought devastated his cattle herds, leaving him unable to pay the hotel’s bills. Less than two years after it opened, Driskill was forced to sell the hotel, his pride and joy. Some say his spirit still sulks in the lobby to this very day.
Another haunting at the Driskill Hotel is that of “The Bride.” In the 1990s, a woman reportedly checked into Room 329 in a clearly distraught mental state. She was often seen returning to her room with armfuls of shopping bags full of designer clothes and other expensive purchases. After several days of shopping sprees, a gunshot rang out—she had taken her own life.
According to legend, she had been rejected by her fiancé days before her wedding. Devastated, she tried to drown her sorrows with shopping, using his credit card. It didn’t fill the void, and she ended it all. That room remains haunted to this day. Visitors report lights flickering on and off, the TV switching channels for no reason, and faucets turning on and off by themselves.
4. Goatman’s Bridge (Old Alton Bridge) – Denton
Goatman’s Bridge, formally known as the Old Alton Bridge, was constructed in the 1880s by the King Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company. Connecting Copper Canyon with Denton, this iron truss bridge originally allowed horses and carriages to cross over Hickory Creek. Later, it carried automobiles until it was closed to vehicles in 2001 and replaced by a modern bridge.
One of the most enduring and haunting legends in the Dallas-Fort Worth area concerns this bridge—and it’s how it earned the nickname “Goatman’s Bridge.” According to local lore, the bridge is haunted by a creature with the body of a man and the head of a goat.
The ghost is said to be the spirit of a man named Oscar Washburn, a successful African American goat farmer who lived near the bridge in the late 1930s. Washburn was known for producing quality goat meat, milk, cheeses, and leather goods. Proud of his success, he hung a sign on the bridge that read “This way to the Goatman,” which angered local Ku Klux Klan members.
One dark night, a lynch mob kidnapped Washburn, dragged him to the bridge, and hanged him with a noose over the side. But when the mob looked down to confirm his death, the noose was mysteriously empty—Washburn had vanished. In retaliation, the mob murdered his wife and children.
Local stories say that if you cross the bridge at night without your headlights on—mimicking the Klan’s torches—you might encounter the Goatman on the other side. Visitors have reported ghostly figures, strange lights in the woods, and sensations of being touched or having rocks thrown at them.
Before the bridge was closed to vehicles, many drivers reported their cars stalling mysteriously near the bridge, with owners disappearing or unable to explain what happened.
5. La Carafe – Houston
La Carafe is the oldest building in downtown Houston and is widely considered the oldest commercial building in the city that’s still in use. Built in the 1860s, it originally housed the Kennedy Bakery before becoming home to the Kennedy Trading Post, a saloon, and later a drug store.
As with many historic buildings, La Carafe is said to be haunted to its core. Even if you don't count the séances that have reportedly taken place upstairs—events that are sure to attract spirits from far and wide—the building’s age alone seems to draw the ghosts of Houston’s old-timers.
Bottles have been known to fall off the shelves, glasses are sometimes thrown across the room, and some patrons have reported feeling a hand on their shoulder while using the men’s room. Occasionally, guests become annoyed at the songs playing on the jukebox, only for the track to change suddenly, as if by unseen hands.
If you’re curious to experience the darker side of Houston’s history, consider joining a Houston ghost tour, because La Carafe is often featured among the city’s most storied and haunted stops.
6. The Jefferson Palace Hotel – Jefferson
Almost every room of The Jefferson Palace Hotel has a haunting of some sort—and if you watch the video above, you’ll see just one example: a red rope being violently tugged by what many believe is a spirit. The hotel is housed in a historic building from the 1850s. Originally a cotton warehouse, it later served as a brothel and speakeasy, making it a hotspot for illegal booze during Prohibition. In those days, prostitutes would stand on the balconies, enticing passersby to come inside.
Eventually, the hotel shed its checkered past. Today, it operates as a regular hotel—or so it would seem. At the front desk, you’ll find the “haunted book,” where guests jot down their paranormal experiences during their stay.
Whether the hotel is haunted by former “ladies of the night,” their clients, or guests who never checked out is anyone’s guess. What is certain is that multiple hauntings have been documented here, and the hotel regularly shares these encounters on its YouTube channel.
If you’re curious for more, the channel’s shorts section features footage of dolls blinking or moving, shadowy figures caught on camera, and other unexplained happenings. The Jefferson Hotel’s haunted reputation is alive and well—just ask anyone who’s spent the night.
7. Old Lavaca County Jail – Hallettsville
The Old Lavaca County Jail in Hallettsville was the oldest continuously operating jail in Texas until its closure in 2005. Currently owned by Rita Properties, this imposing structure once housed some of the state’s most hardened criminals, with its history stretching back to the early 1900s.
Many say the jail is haunted by the spirits of former inmates. Step inside, and you might feel a palpable tension—a sense of uneasiness and dread that settles over you. The jail’s 30-inch-thick walls seem to trap wandering souls within, isolating them from the outside world even in death.
One of the primary sources of the jail’s spectral activity is the gallows, located in the adjacent yard. Public hangings were once a common sight here, sowing negative energy and leaving behind restless spirits who couldn’t escape the confines of their cells.
8. Miss Molly’s Hotel – Fort Worth
Miss Molly’s Hotel has worn many hats over the years as a boarding school, a speakeasy, and a brothel. Originally, though, it was built as a boarding house for cattlemen. The hotel has been featured on Discovery Channel’s Ghost Lab and is considered one of the spookiest places in Fort Worth.
Strange happenings are a regular occurrence here. Items disappear and reappear, showers turn on and off by themselves, and guests have reported sightings of ghostly cowboys and “working girls” from the building’s wilder days.
When the hotel first opened, it quickly became a favorite among traveling cowboys, thanks to the booming cattle industry in the region. During Prohibition, the hotel’s character shifted, serving illegal booze while women lingered in the halls, hoping to entice visitors.
Several ghosts are said to haunt Miss Molly’s, including Miss Molly herself—a former manager known for tidying up guests’ rooms as they sleep, sometimes even organizing any loose change she finds. Another spirit, Jake, is a shadowy old cowboy who’s known for slamming doors and turning up the TV volume unexpectedly.
9. The Magnolia Hotel – Seguin
The Magnolia Hotel in Seguin, featured on shows like Ghost Adventures and Paranormal on Cam, is said to be home to at least 13 known spirits. What sets this hotel apart is that each ghost is associated with a unique scent.
The spirit of Ms. Rosebud, the “resident madam,” is always accompanied by a strong rose perfume. Another ghost gives off an earthy aroma, while yet another leaves behind the lingering smell of pipe tobacco.
Built in 1850 as a stagecoach stop, the Magnolia Hotel has hosted many famous guests—including Sam Houston himself. Its basement once served as the original Seguin jail, adding to its haunted reputation.
Despite their numbers, the ghosts of the Magnolia Hotel are generally considered respectful. While they might play the occasional prank—like turning off your shower while you’re using it—they’re not known to cause any harm.
10. Hotel Galvez — Galveston
Today a property managed by Marriott, the Hotel Galvez has served the local community for more than a century. Its regal halls laid with checkerboard flooring guide travelers through the pristine property, offering glimpses of Galveston’s Progressive Era. The hotel supported the region’s focus on seaside activities, having replaced the original Beach Hotel that burned down before the turn of the century.
Since its grand opening on June 10, 1911, nearly 11 years after the Great Storm ravaged the coastal city, Hotel Galvez (then the Grand Galvez) welcomed guests from all over. While many found comfort and serenity within the expansive property, others found only misery.
One of the hotel’s most notable specters, The Lovelorn Lady of Room 500, waited impatiently for her love to return from the sea. When she heard news that the ship had sunk and her fiancé wasn’t among those rescued, she tied a sheet around her neck and ended her own life, hoping to reunite with him in the afterlife. To this day, guests in Room 500 report cold spots, flickering lights, and the unmistakable feeling of someone else being there.
The hotel is home to other lingering spirits as well. Some guests and staff have claimed to hear the soft voice of a young girl asking for ice cream, usually near the lobby or where the old ice cream parlor once stood in the early days. In other rooms, faucets turn on by themselves and playful mischief keeps the Galvez’s haunted reputation alive.
If you want to get the full story, a Galveston ghost tour is a great way to experience the haunted side of the island with the Grand Galvez as a highlight.
11. Ghost Road Scenic Drive — Saratoga
Not every haunt is conveniently located in the heart of a big city or bound to some historic downtown structure. Sometimes, you have to cut through vast greenery and brave the untamed wilds. About 75 miles northeast of Pasadena, Hardin County Park conceals Bragg Road, or what locals call the Ghost Road Scenic Drive.
A bright yellow, stamped text welcomes curious visitors to the eight-mile trek along an unpaved dirt path. Pines and cypress flank both sides of the path, engulfing cars as they get deeper into the park. There’s a brief peace before the unsettling seclusion kicks in and the comforts of contemporary society grow increasingly distant. The drive doesn’t seem like much, until the mysterious light flashes in the night.
Local legend states that the Bragg Road Light, or the Light of Saratoga, shines from the lantern of a railroad worker. The victim of a wreck, the aimless spirit roams East Texas’ Big Thicket in search of the since-removed rails. Even beyond the mysterious light, there’s a heaviness to the air in Bragg Road, as if something much darker and more sinister persists in the thick forestry.
12. Granbury Opera House — Granbury
Be it the intense energy of a performance or the irresistible draw of live shows, theaters are often playgrounds for the deceased. A 19th-century relic, the opera welcomed many to its main stage over the years, their powerful vocals becoming part of the theater’s ethereal fabric. Roars of applause still echo today, a reminder of the opera house’s long and sometimes turbulent history.
The lingering energies of each performance fuel an ominous figure thought to be ingrained in the theater’s past. Spied as a tall figure donned in all black, the Granbury Opera House ghost is a controversial and unwelcome presence.
A performer in his own right, the phantom of this opera house has been heard putting on his own production. Theatergoers, actors, and crew alike have felt the presence of an entity, especially anyone who has been in the theater after hours when the softest whisper cuts through the silence. But many may find it difficult to applaud, as local legend states it’s the manifestation of John Wilkes Booth.
Heavy footsteps and spine-tingling chills have been reported, though it’s the full-bodied, withering figure with the alluring voice that’s the prized spectral encounter.
13. USS Lexington — Corpus Christi
The USS Lexington was a critical component of several World War II naval campaigns. While most ships are decommissioned and scrapped or recycled, more notable vessels like Lexington are preserved for their historical importance. In Corpus Christi, locals and visitors can step inside the belly of the behemoth to hear stories of Pearl Harbor and World War II.
While exploring the hull of the Blue Ghost, visitors may also happen upon the echoes of war. Poltergeist activity knocks pots and pans together while the chaos of naval battles reverberates throughout the aircraft carrier. Shouting and hollered orders break the stillness within the ship as these memories play out somewhere beyond the veil. The residual haunts of Lexington’s service are imprints on the vessel as history repeats itself time and time again aboard the mighty ship.
More intelligent spirits also patrol the vessel, appearing to guests as shadows that dart down cramped halls. Others have been spotted moving frantically on the deck as if running between posts to stave off Japanese bombers.
Within the engine room, a man named Charlie welcomes visitors, offering insight into life aboard Lexington. Except…there are no tour guides named Charlie, and no one works in the engine room.
The Many Haunts of Texas
Texas has a rough history, and it shows. Long before it joined the Union, native tribes were pushed off their land, and the ground was stained by battles and heartbreak. All that history left behind more than just stories.
As the state grew, so did its collection of ghosts. From haunted hotels to strange lights on back roads, Texas is packed with legends for anyone brave—or curious—enough to go looking. This list covers 13 of the most haunted spots in the state, but honestly, you could spend a lifetime chasing down all the ghosts, phantoms, and weird happenings that call Texas home.
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